Stars set for Super 4s

The country's elite women players will face each other at the end of the month as this year's Super 4s competition gets underway.

Fifty one English players and two Australian internationals have been divided into four teams - there are also eight reserves - for the tournament which signals the start of the women's international calendar.

England are on the crest of a wave at the moment having won the Ashes last winter and drawn 2-2 in the one-day series. The team, captained by Charlotte Edwards, then concluded a fine trip down under by sealing a 3-1 series victory against New Zealand.

New coach Mark Lane will not be content to let the team rest on their laurels however and this summer's tourists South Africa and India will present another stern examination.

Lane will be a keen observer during the Super 4s where the Sapphires, Diamonds, Emeralds and Rubies will do battle in a Twenty20 challenge that starts on Bank Holiday Monday at Loughborough.

The teams will then contest a league, starting on 31 May, where matches are played over 50 overs.

The Rubies were triumphant in 2007 and with a handful of England internationals including Caroline Atkins, Holly Colvin, Steph Davies and Isa Guha, as well as Australian Alex Blackwell, who scored a century against England in February, will be hopeful of retaining their crown.

The other three sides are stacked with talent ensuring a highly competitive tournament.

England skipper Edwards, who cracked an unbeaten 199 in the competition two seasons ago, will lead the Diamonds who boast Lynsey Askew, Lydia Greenway and Beth Morgan in their ranks while the Sapphires will look to Rosalie Birch, Katherine Brunt and Vodafone player of the year Claire Taylor to propel them to success.

The fourth team, the Emeralds, are led by England vice-captain Nicky Shaw and include all-rounder Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh and wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor.

The teams:

Sapphires: Alexia Walker (capt), Rosalie Birch, Kathryn Brunt, Katie Cross, Kathryn Doherty, Lauren Griffiths (WK), Jenny Halstead, Danielle Hazell, Rochelle Petty, Leah Poulton (AUS), Dawn Prestidge, Laura Spragg, Claire Taylor. Coach: Paul Shaw.

Diamonds: Charlotte Edwards (capt), Lynsey Askew, Karen Baker (WK), Sarah Bartlett, Tamsin Beaumont, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Izzy Westbury, Charlotte Horton, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Charlie Russell, Anna Stevenson. Coach: John Stock.

Emeralds: Nicky Shaw (capt), Salliann Briggs, Kelly Evenson, Daisy Gardner, Jenny Gunn, Laura Joyce, Hannah Lloyd, Laura Marsh, Nicky Myers, Sarah Taylor (WK), Jasmine Titmus, Jo Watts, Beth Wild, Danielle Wyatt. Coach: Vince Wells.

Rubies: Gill Richards (capt), Caroline Atkins, Alex Blackwell (Aus), Hannah Burr, Holly Colvin, Steph Davies, Isa Guha, Natalie Lane, Sophie Le Marchand (WK), Kate Oakenfold, Anya Shrubsole, Amanda Potgieter, Becky Williams. Coach: Andrew Hobday.

Reserves: Laura Boorman, Sarah Clarke, Jo Cook, Laura Croft, Heather Knight, Steph Masters, Emma Plush, Laura Thompson.

Click here (44 KB) to see the Super 4s fixtures.